Fatal Overdoses Rise in Bangor and Penobscot County

Despite $2.1M in unspent opioid funds, overdose deaths increased in the region

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Fatal drug overdoses grew last year in Penobscot County and Bangor, Maine, despite an overall decline in overdose deaths statewide. Penobscot County is the only Maine county that saw more suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses in 2025 than the previous year, even as $2.1 million in opioid-related funds went unspent.

Why it matters

The rise in overdose deaths in Bangor and Penobscot County, despite available funding, highlights the complex and persistent challenges of the opioid crisis in the region. Understanding the factors behind this trend is crucial to developing effective strategies to address the issue and save lives.

The details

Penobscot County saw an increase in suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses in 2025, even as the state overall experienced a decline in overdose deaths. The reasons behind this regional disparity are not entirely clear, but experts suggest that factors such as access to treatment, social determinants of health, and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may all be contributing to the problem.

  • In 2025, Penobscot County saw an increase in suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses.

The players

Penobscot County

A county in Maine that saw an increase in suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses in 2025, even as the state overall experienced a decline in overdose deaths.

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The takeaway

The rise in overdose deaths in Bangor and Penobscot County, despite available funding, highlights the complex and persistent challenges of the opioid crisis in the region. Addressing this issue will require a multifaceted approach that considers the unique social, economic, and public health factors contributing to the problem.